Jeweller - November Issue 2017

HONG KONG WATCH & CLOCK FAIR
Swatch Group in its half-year report showed a sales rise of 2.9 per cent at constant
exchange rates in the watches and jewellery segment, excluding production.
“Positive outlook for the second half of 2017 with many new product launches,”
Swatch’s financial statement read. “Good development in production, which
will mainly profit from the growth of the own brands, not only in value but also
in volumes.”
These reports are important not just for the luxury segment because, although
the market has fractured into distinct price-point segments over the past 30 years,
the whole industry can be affected by market circumstances – a rising tide will lift
all the boats but the reverse was very much the case just one year ago.
SHOWSTOPPERS
A wide range of attention-getters assailed visitors at the 2017 fair; however, two
were head and shoulders above the rest.
Stylistically this year there has been a seismic shift to minimalism, a theme that
was evident in almost every watchmaker’s product releases.
Readers may be aware of the fine German watchmaker Nomos Glashütte, which
has a trademark of special brand elegance based on minimalism. The aesthetic
spells truly elegant sophistication and it seems the rest of the world has now
caught on.
The other outstanding news from the exclusive coterie of World Brand Piazza
exhibitors was from Jacob & Co. This exclusive Swiss watchmaker exhibited
the diamond-set Billionaire watch that sells for an eye-watering US$20.4 million
(AU$25.7 m). Never mind the beautiful skeletonised tourbillon movement, the
Billionaire features 239 emerald-cut diamonds, including one single 3-carat
stone, with the total weight amounting to 260 carats – very deep velvet pockets
needed here.
Apple Watch is now only one example of the expansive and clever spectrum
of shrewd add-on providers defining the latest class of WTs.
WTs currently range from children’s toys through to a trackable children’s watch
and on to full health reporting and communication functions. Whilst most rely on
the smartphone for connectivity, the most recent iterations are even independent
of this platform.
The Wearable Tech space at Salon de TE presented a vast selection of branded
smartwatches with the latest technologies and functionalities.
Cupid Memory from Hong Kong brings its namesake collection, featuring a
patented strap that is installed with near-field communication (NFC) technology
as well as a QR code. Users can tap the watch with an NFC-enabled mobile phone
or scan the QR code with the phone to read messages previously stored in its
mobile application.
A combination of advances in artistic subtlety, quality of manufacture and
technological prowess was certainly noted at the 2017 Hong Kong fair, providing
an interesting outlook for the year ahead.
Next year’s HKW&CF will take place from September 4 to September 8. i
Martin Foster FBHI attended the event courtesy of the organiser, Hong Kong Trade
Development Council (HKTDC).
Each year, Chinese watch production also shows an increasing understanding of
how to be up there in the company of the best European luxury makers. What is
evident year by year is a huge advance of the quality and finish that is now part
of the established pattern of their high-end manufacture.
NEW WEARABLES
Wearable Tech (WT) is the new name embracing smartwatches, which have
evolved into something much broader than a timepiece with add-ons. Indeed
for most WTs today, showing the time is a very minor part of the functionality.
32 Jeweller November 2017